banging out ball joints

[Rhett]

Do you guys like to use specially designed ball joint pullers/presses or do you just use a BFH to pound out old ball joints?

 

[DeRocha]

I have used the "C" clamp press (free Autozone Rental). I used it with my impact gun and had the ball joints in and out in short order. I wouldn't use a hammer when installing the New ball joints as (IMO) it would damage/weaken the joint. The tool comes with several different sized "pipes" that press in the joint from the edges not from the joint itself....

 

[JDraper]

Use a ball joint puller. If you pound them out, you might damage the press fit, and your new ones won't go in right.

 

[james t]

ball joint press is free rental at the 'zone, and works 5 bajillion times better than a BFH. besides, like ryan said, the hammer can eggshape the fitment.

 

[JDraper]

Originally posted by james t
.......like ryan said, the hammer can eggshape the fitment.

Who's Ryan??

 

[james t]

Originally posted by JDraper


Who's Ryan??

lmao, he's the guy in my imagination who posted what jeff posted. needless to say, my short-term memory farts sometimes.

 

[SGR1600]

how often do you have to replace ball joints? how do you know when to do it?

 

[Blee1099]

Originally posted by SGR1600
how often do you have to replace ball joints? how do you know when to do it?

I replaced mine with a set of Moog greasables at about 80,000 miles.. Since then, I just grease em using the grease fitting on them every time I do an oil change.

 

[etc]

Replaced mine somewhere around 120k, and they were long overdue.

 

[SGR1600]

When you replace the uppers, the control arms come with 'em right? So they're probably like about $100 each I guess. And then $25-$30 each for the lowers?

 

[james t]

the uppers are $80 for the passenger side and $180 for the driver's side. the passenger side arm is two piece so you dont have to buy the entire arm. and yes, i think a non removable ball joint is the most rediculous thing on earth.

 

[JDraper]

My lower balljoints lasted a whopping 26k :fire: ! Fortunately Ford replaced them under warranty, but put the stupid non greasable ones back in. Bet's on me making 60k on these??

 

[JasonF]

As far as prices go, its $250 delivered for all 4 ball joints (with upper arms) in the Moog enhanced greaseable variety from rockauto.com

Jason

 

[EBInterceptor]

How do you tell when they need to be replaced? What should I be looking for?

 

[TheRookie]

look for play. like movenent in the joint. I take out ball joints at work with A BFH daily. never had a problem. Propper technique is to use a ball joint puller. Bah, takes too long

 

[dan leon]

Hmm... BFH vs. the right tool for the job... Maybe its just me...

 

[DeRocha]

Originally posted by TheRookie
I take out ball joints at work with A BFH daily. never had a problem. Propper technique is to use a ball joint puller. Bah, takes too long

I think using a hammer to remove them is fine, its the installing part that you need to be carefull with... So how do you install the new ones?

 

[SGR1600]

Hmmmm.... Well I havent noticed that I need to replace these, but I guess that's a good thing. When, however, I do noticed that they need replacing I'll put on the Moog greasable ones. Thanks.

 

[pax]

No rental here in Canada. I had the garage changed mine. I bought my own Lower Moog greasable one. They charged me $230.00 CAD labour to change the lower ones.
I checked them by jack up the truck at the lower control arm just enough to put a pry bar under the tire. You can see the movement at the joint if it had play on it. My lower ones were bad, but the upper ones were ok.

 

[TheRookie]

depends on the vehicle. but a press is the only definate way